Trends Cost Sellers Money

Written By: PJ Wade
Monday, March 19, 2018

Every new and widely-adopted trend changes whats considered "standard." When this happens in real estate mdash; inside or out mdash; a sellers non-trend or off-trend house or condominium unit may become "substandard" in buyers eyes.

Sellers who expect top dollar for their property must ensure it makes an on-trend impression with homebuyers, especially millennials.

In interior design, the trend toward ensuite bathrooms combined with the trend to "spa-like" bathrooms has put expensive-renovation pressure on sellers existing bathrooms. No matter how nice they are to use, if bathrooms dont have the magazine-look buyers lust after, their "this is a gut job" reaction means renovation cost and inconvenience to buyers and the home gets a "too dated to love" mark against it.

To understand what buyers expect, sellers benefit from taking a long hard look at their main rooms after spending a few hours binging on home-renovation shows or pouring over home-decor magazines. Get it?

If the resale house or condominium unit doesnt have spa-like bathrooms, an oasis->

Buyers may dramatically under-value your house or condo or ignore it altogether. Ask local real estate professionals about the type of buyers who would be interested in the delayed gratification of paying for your "slightly dated" homes location and then undertaking extensive renovations themselves. Will they pay you top-dollar?

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most expensive rooms to renovate, so its annoying to sellers that these are the only rooms that add value to a home. These key rooms may even decide whether a property sells at all.

The last renovation may seem a recent memory to sellers, but they must check the calendar. If it was more than 5 or even 10 years ago, this time lag puts sellers out of phase with millennial buyers mdash; your home reminds them of their parents or grandparents place. Not a way to add value or evoke a "dream home" atmosphere.

If the last renovation was fairly recent, on-trend paint and other cosmetic staging touch-ups may be all thats necessary for great return on this investment.

Hone down what needs to be done to an effective cosmetic minimum after any necessary repairs. Usually sellers aim for the best potential short-term return on decor investment, not on long-term construction returns.

As well as kitchen overhauls, here are a few common "out dated" problems:

Paint color trends now change every year in sync with fashion. The "shades of grey" look is out and color is back. If you have older beige or pink-green color schemes, buyers may discount your homes value dramatically.

Wallpaper is in again, but if you dont have current wallpaper >

Stainless steel appliances and brushed nickle finishes were mandatory for years, but they are beginning to fade in popularity. Gold is the new hot metal color even though it hasnt made it to appliances yet. Buyers want new, matching, preferably high-end appliances. How do yours rate?

Floating bathroom vanities or at least vanities with slender, exposed legs are the new norm. Old chunky cabinets, especially those without double sinks, will generate expensive "gut job" reactions from buyers.

Solar panels and gas fireplaces have come down in price and so have increased in popularity in many locations. Skip these trends and your home may be considered "out dated" even though you have a new furnace and a >

Staging can add cosmetic cleverness, but there still may be a few renovation projects necessary. Staging distracts from negatives and enhances positives with strategic furniture placement, scaled-down furniture, wanna-have pieces, and refreshing repaints. These elements can do a lot to enhance market value, but they cant overshadow a seriously out-of-date kitchen or a poorly-maintained exterior.

A real estate professionals thorough evaluation of market value for your property should include a list of simple and more-complex up-dates that may add to your bottom line.

Remember, sellers should concentrate on what target buyers want in their "dream home," not on what sellers have been comfortable living with for years.